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Bits from Kevin O’Connor Interview, 1/28

I can’t explain this, but something weird is going on. During Dennis Lindsey’s introductory press conference, he spoke eloquently with virtually no “you know’s” or “uh’s.” Now, he can’t go three seconds without dropping one or both…and he now sounds exactly like a slightly southern version of Kevin O’ Connor. Meanwhile, in this KOC interview, he spoke quite well with 90 percent of his trademark “you know’s” and “um’s” and “uhhhh’s” gone. What is happening?!

On preventing 4th-quarter collapses
We do so many analytics as far as that goes. But let’s talk generalization, and generalization is that we limit guys to one shot, and we limit them to one shot that maybe they’re uncomfortable with.

Turnovers and shooting percentage, on our side, are pretty good most of the time. I feel defense is a big key. I think we were, in December, we were 20-some-odd, 25th, 26th in defense in the scheme that we use, and in January so far we’ve been nine or 10, along with being around there in offense. So if you can do that, that’s really gonna dictate a lot of wins.

Kevin O’Connor’s Guide to Team-Building
Don’t build for today. Build a foundation by:
1) Developing a culture
2) Getting guys who are committed to winning by doing your due diligence, talking to coaches and opposing coaches, evaluating as much as possible, and trusting your gut instinct
3) Getting talent. Talent doesn’t trump all, but you need it to win
4) Recognizing your deficiencies and getting guys that fit with other guys
5) Having stability in your coach and ownership: “You can’t keep changing things if it doesn’t work. You’ve got to figure out a way to make it work first, and then if it, then if it doesn’t work, and you go a step too far, you can, you make changes, obviously. And we, you know, since 2010, Paul [Millsap]’s the only guy we’ve had here. But I’d like that not to happen, but it’s inevitable in the NBA.

Spencer Checketts, UDQM: It’s always a pleasure to have Kevin pop up.

On trade rumors that Spencer Checketts says he’s heard from national NBA writers, insiders, executives, scouts and GMs
You know, all those people don’t know what the hell they’re talking about, if you really want to know the truth. You know, I mean, they, what they’re doing, to me, okay, if you ask me that question, they’re trying to put it in your mind so you’ll say it on the air, so there’ll be more pressure on us to do something. It benefits them.

On what happens when the other side leaks deals being negotiated
It is frustrating. And I call ’em on it. And I tell them that, you know, I’d like basically not to do another deal with ’em.

On the trade process and lack of responsibility of social media
I think the first thing that you try and do when you make a trade is to look at it and see if it’s common sense. You know, I mean, common sense would tell you that this can happen. Common sense would tell you that this should happen. Common sense would tell you, you gonna trade this guy for this guy, they’ve already got that position covered and the money’s different and everything else. So that’s not common sense.

But in today’s day and age, with Twitter and all the blogs and everything else, nobody has any responsibility. They can throw out anything they want, all the minutia that they want, and with all of that stuff being out there, they really don’t have any idea of what’s going on. But they make a deal.

And sometimes, I read something or somebody will come into me,* or one time, you know, Greg [Miller] came to me and said, “You’re not considering doing this!” I said, “No, should I? I mean, this is the first time I’ve seen it. I’ve never talked to the team.”…

So it’s part of the business. So you try and keep it with the principles, and you try and make sure that you try and have the deal done before it escapes.
* UDQM

On when trades shouldn’t be made
Why do you make the deal? If you make it because everyone thinks you should, it’s the wrong deal, and it will come back to haunt you. It really will. I mean, the best deals sometimes that you make are the ones that you think to yourself, “I shouldn’t do this, but…” And if you do it, nine out of 10 times you’re wrong, ’cause your gut’s telling you not to do it. (1280)